Google fined $1.7B for 'abusive' online ad practices in the EU
https://www.cnet.com/news/google-fined-1-7bn-for-abusive-online-ad-practices-in-the-eu/
It's the third antitrust fine the EU has handed down to Google in the past three years for breaking competition rules. It brings the company's total bill to 8.2 billion euros following almost a decade of investigations into its shopping practices, Android rules and advertising dominance.
"Google has cemented its dominance in online search adverts and shielded itself from competitive pressure by imposing anti-competitive contractual restrictions on third-party websites," said EU Competition Commissioner Margrethe Vestager in a statement. "This is illegal under EU antitrust rules. The misconduct lasted over 10 years and denied other companies the possibility to compete on the merits and to innovate -- and consumers the benefits of competition."